Penn State uniforms to be altered

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Penn State University footballers will be sporting changes to their famously plain blue-and-white uniforms this season, school officials said Tuesday.

The uniforms, which include white helmets with no logos and jerseys with numbers but no names, will be altered after the team was hit with harsh NCAA sanctions following the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

Acting Athletic Director David Joyner said players' names will, for the first time, be stitched onto the backs of jerseys.

The uniforms will also include a blue ribbon to support victims of child abuse.

Joyner made the announcement a day after the Nittany Lions started practice for their 126th season and first under head Coach Bill O'Brien.

"The Penn State community stands with all victims of child abuse," Joyner said in a statement. "[O'Brien] and his football team made it clear they want to support victims and bring more awareness to this issue, which affects so many."

"I'm proud that our players want to be part of the university's efforts to help victims of child abuse," O'Brien added. "We hope our fans join us in wearing blue ribbons to all Penn State home games."

O'Brien took over the football program following the firing and subsequent death of highly successful Coach Joe Paterno, whose legacy was tainted by revelations that Sandusky, his longtime assistant, had sexually abused boys for years, including in football locker rooms.

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